Locking mechanism



\ July 7, '1931.

H. F. WALKER LOCKING MECHANISM Original Filed July. 1'7,- 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l %z:5 Gamme July 7, 1931. H. F. WALKER 1,813,473

vLOCKING MECHANISM Original Filed July 17' 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7, 1931. H. F. WALKER 1,813,473

LOCKING MECHANISM OriginalFiled July l'7I 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 7, 1931 p UNITE ST l.HER-1:5ER'I F. WALKER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SARGENT & GREEN- vLEAF, INC., OF ROCHESTER, NEVI YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LOCKING MECHANISM `Application filed July 17, 1925, Serial No. 44,373. Renewed April 19, 1926.

doors or closures including a combination orv other suitable lock and a variable time mechanism adapted to normally prevent the release of obstructing means for holding in check the securing parts of the door, but

Which is so controlled as not to function until said lock has been released or unlocked, whereby to foil any attempt on the part of unauthorized persons to gain access to the safe or vault at a given time by the use of a key or by forcing one having the combinal tion to disclose the same or by successfully operating the combination through their oWn efforts.

Another object is to so construct a time mechanism and a combination lock for use with the doors of safes, vaults and other conipartments as to render the combination lock effective to automatically move an obstructive element into position to prevent release of the bolt-Work for securing the door upon locking the latter and destroying the combination and to so arrange the time-mechanism as to effect release of said element at any predetermined time desired.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide for use in connection with' vault doors and other forms of closures a combination lock and time-mechanism so arranged that a suitable device for guarding the bolt-Work of the door Will be moved to operating position by the combination lock upon destroying the combination and in Which the time-mechanism can be set to operate for any predetermined period desired, but Which Will not function until the combination lock has been unlocked, thereby delaying the opening of thev mally prevcntel from and. also by Which an obstructive element is moved, upon destroying the combination, which will prevent vvithdrawal ofthe bolt-Work for locking the door.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as Will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification,

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combination lock and time mechanism embodying the invention; a

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through a safe or vault, looking at the inner face of the door thereof, upon which is shown one emi lholdups of bank vaults and the like by hold ing in check the bolt-Work for locking the door of the vault for a predetermined length of ltime after the combination has been released, Whereby to foil any attempt of bandits or bank robbers in gaining immediate access to the contents of the vault upon entering the bank. v

In the present embodiment of the invention 10 represents conventionally a safe or vault having a door or closure 11 provided on its inner face With rearwardly projecting ribs or plates 12 in which are slidably mounted the bolts 13 shown in loc-king position in Figvure 2. The bolts are connected by a vertically disposed bar 14 which is adapted to actuate the bolts simultaneously, the bar being moved by any suitable means such as the handle 15 and crank arm 16 having its free end disposed between the lugs 18 of the bar as shown inaFigure 2. The bar is provided Witl' a laterally extending or projection 19 in the path of which is: normally disposed a suitable guard or obstructing device 2O preferably pivotally mounted Within a casing 21 secured on the back of the door ll and containing the time-mechanism, the casing having a door 22 hinged thereon which is provided with a transparent panel 23 through Wiiich the time-mechanism is rendered visible. The casing is spaced slightly from the door preferably by a pluraity of rubbei` or other yicldable spacing members Q4 as shown in Figure l, which affords a certain degree of protection to the time-mechanism by partially absorbing the blows to which the door ll may be subjected from time to time.

The combinationv lock indicated at Q5, is disclosed upon the 'ear rice ot the safe door slightly above the time-mechanism casing 2l and is provided with a cover 26 shown reni red in Figure 4. The usual knob and dial plate 'for the combination lock are indicated at 27 and Q8. respectively. The coniination lock may be of any particular construction desired and it preferred may be included in a. casing containing the time-mech` anism. rFhe present combination lock, of a 1well known type, is illustrated in release position in Figure 4 and includes the usual tumblers Q9 and disk 8O rigid on the tuinblershait 3l. The dist: is provided with cam euriacek 'for raising the pivoted locking dog and opera connection to destrov the combination during rotation of the disk in aw-clock-` wise direction viewed in Figure 4. The operating member 34 for raising the guard is moved to the right from the position shown in Figure 4 through rotation of a lug 35 on the disk in c ofthe opera ing n n; returned to the position shown in said p iiro through engifigeinent of the lug 35 with a elioulc er 37 of tl e connection 83.

The operating member includes an oiii-V set portion 3S and aA depending arm or lever TA,vhicli projects through a slot 40 in the. lbottoni ofthe casing r'lie arm'39 is pro- Y iocted betweenV the'door ll and the timeineclianism casing 2l as best shown in Figure l and is provided at its lower end With an angular portion 4l which carries an upstand- IDF tbe

1 vluiou destroying the combination with the bolt-Werl; ii position to loclr 'the door as shown in Figure 2. rihe guard 2O is thus brought to a position in which it will lie directly in the path of the rod 19 opposite the opening 4i iii the'casing 2l through which f the rod is adapted to project When the guard 'agement with an armember 34. t ie latter be-V has been released by the timing-mechanism and dropped by gravity to the position shown in Figure 4. The guard or obstructing member 2O is suitably pivoted at 48 Within the casing 2l with its free end resting upon the bottoni or thecasing Whenin release position.

The timingdevices, tivo of which are shown, may constitute any suitable mechaiiism for releasing the guard 2O,v but are so controlled bythe combination lock asto'remain inactive until the lcombination is released, at which time they begin to operate. T iey are preferably so designed as not to run down before releasing tliefguard 20, being shown in run down position in Figure 4. The timing-devices operate independently ofeach other and anyone of them'will'e'ect releaseiof said guard 20. The casing ,'Qls preferably designed to hold threeoffthe timingdevices, but only two are ishown, it being understood that moretlianone vvis provided'as ay matter of safety so that should ione become disabled the *other Willffunction for the purpose provided.l Eachztimingfdevice compri es a rotatable dial `49 having '."a,cluations 50 representing any divisions -of .une desired, such, for example, as Y,hours slioivn in the present instance as divided into minute periods. A fixed pointer or index meint-er 5l` is -arranged Ato correspond `to ,the :aero position of Athe dial when tlielatter is in rundown position. Previous to closingand locking the safe orl vault the dials `'are set for a predetermined period, determined by or' example. The'setting is effected through the medium ot' a suitabley lltey adapted tobe inserted upon the motor drivenarbor'52rfor winding the mechanism, the usual train. of gears being provided as shown for driving the dials, which are adapted torotateicounter- 'clockwise asviewed in Figurel. Theusual escap'ement Wheel is indicated at 53 andthe pallet for controlling the saine isshown at immediately upon closing the door-and destroying the combination the depending' arm 39 is moved from the position shown inFigure 4 to that shown in Figure 3 to'niove the 5S having a tongue or shoulder L59 adapted to project under a laterally extendingrpin of the guard as shown in'Figure 3. The rlatch member is dependingly supported -by a 4slidably mounted bar 6l whichissupported by a he official in charge, being shown set in Figy F. uro 3 tor a period of one hour, merely by Way ructing position compriseslalatcli'member vthey continue tooperate the latch 58 is gradpairof pins'or screws 62 and 63 adapted to' project respectively through slots Get and at the ends of the bars, the screws being carried provided With upstanding arms or projections 67 disposed inthe path of the laterally projecting pins G8 carried by and adapted torI`he latch 58- is normally held in position to support the rotate with thek dial Wheels.

guard-2O by means of a spring 69 after the timing-devices have been set, as indicated in Figure 3. The spring is preferably disposed Within a housing 70 suitably secured upon the bar 6l, the outer end ot' the spring engaging a plunger rod 7l Which is guided by the housing and which is held against outward movement by one of the end Walls oi the casing 21 as shown in Figure Il. The plunger rod is provided with a reduced portion 72 projecting through said Wall which serves to hold the bar in proper alinement during operation. Rotation of the pins G8 with the dial Wheels in Va counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, Will cause the same to engage the arms 67 of the latch bar When the timing-devices are nearing rundown position and as ually Withdrawn from beneath the pin GO ot the guard 2O to release the latter, at which time it Will drop by gravity to the positionshown lin Figure l and permit movement of the bolt Work to unlocking position.

` -Upon raising the guard 2O through movement of `the arm 39 the pin 60 Will ride upon the inclined surface 73 of the latch 58 and move the latter to the right against the ac- VV-shaped portion 7a to facilitate cooperationbetween the pin and latch 1n the holding and releasing of the guard.

lVhile I preferably employ a combination lock for controlling the timing-mechanism it Willbe understood that other types of locks may be used for the same purpose, such as a g key lock, and I do not therefore Wish to limit the invention to any particular form of loclr l'or control of or cooperation with the timingmechanism.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination, a sate or vault including a closure and securing mechanism therefor, a lock, timing-mechanism, means movable to and from obstruct-ing position with relation to said securing mechanism, and devices controlled by said lock and timingmechanism, one of which is eilective to move said means to obstructing position and the other to release the same after operation oi the timing-mechanism for a predetermined period.

` 2. In combination, a safe or vault including a closure and securing mechanism therefor, a lock, timing-mechanism,means movable toand from obstructing position With relation to said securing mechanism, devices controlled by said lock and timing-mechanism, one of Which is elizective to move said means to obstructing position and the other to release the same, and means controlled by the locl :tor preventing operation ofthe timing-mechanism previous to movement of the loclrto release position.

- 3. In combination, a safe or vault including a closure and bolt-Work therefor, a combination lock,timing-mechanism, means movable to and from obstructing position with relation to said bolt-Work, devices for-moving said means to obstructing position and for releasing'the same, one of which is operatively connected With t-he combination lock and the other with the timing-mechanisin'and means controlled by the device forl moving said means to obstructing position adapted to prevent operation of the timing-mechanism previous to release of the combination.

The combination with a timing-mechanism, a combination loch' and a releasable obstructing device for the securing mechanism of a closure, of means controlled by the combination lock for moving the obstructing device to operative position upon destroying the combination, and means controlled bythe timing-mechanism for releasing the obstructing` device after operation of the timingmechanism for a predetermined period.

5. rIhe combination With a timing-mecha:

nism, a combination lock and a releasable ob-` structing device 'orjthe securing mechanism of a closure, of means controlled by thel combination loclr for moving the obstructing device to operative position upon destroying the combination, means adapted to prevent operation of the timing-mechanism While the combination loclr is in locking position, and means controlled by the timing-mechanism for releasing the obstructing device at a predetermined time.

6. The combination With a timing mechanism, a combination lock anda releasable obstructing device for the securing mechanism ot a closure,of means controlled lby the combination lock adaptedto move the obstructing device to operative position and to pre-vent operation of the timing-mechanism While the combination loclr is in locking position, and means controlled by the timing-mechanism for releasing the obstructing device subsequent to a predetermined period of operation of the timing-mechanism.

7. In combination, a sate or vault including a closure and securing mechanism therefor, a combination locln'timing mechanism, a member movable to and vfrom obstructing position With relation to said securing mechanism, a device operatively connected. with the combinz'ition'lock for moving said member to- -.obstructing position and a latch for normally holding the obstructing member in operative Vposition adapted to be released by the timing-mechanism after'operation of the same for apredetermined period.

8. vIn combination, a safe or vault includ-V ;ing ay closure and securing mechanism therefor, a lock, timing-mechanism, means movable to and from obstructing position with relation to said securing mechanism, devices adapted to be simultaneously moved by the lockiipon,operation of the saine to both preto engage a controlling part of the timing- Amechanism to preventoperation thereof previousto release of the lock, said parts being moved to release positioii upon releasing the lock, and'fmeans controlled byl the timingf mechanism for releasing the obstructing device after the tiniing-mechanisin has been opler'ated for a predetermined period.

l0. In combination, a safe or vault includ- Aing a closure and securing means therefor,

` a device 4movable to 'and from obstructing position with relation to the securing means,

a lock, timing-mechanism, an arm connected 'Withthe lock adapted to move'said device to obstructing position' upon movement of the lock to locking position, a member connected with the'arm adapted during operation there- A of to "move into obstructing position with relation lto the controlling portion of the timing-mechanism to prevent operation thereof previous to release of the lock, and a latch adapted to hold the obstructing' device in obstructing position -and arranged to be released by the timing-mechanism after it' 'has operated for a predetermined length of Vtime.

11. In combination, a safe or vault includinga closure and bolt-work for securing the latter, a member adapted to'be raised into obstructing position with'relation to the boltwork, a latch forholding said member in obstructing position, a lock, timing-mechanism including a driven member having a projecting portion rotatableV therewith to effect-release of the latch after operation of the timing-mechanism for a predetermined period, a device connected with the lock for raising said member to obstructing position upon` moving the lock, to locking position,

ing member being adapted to drop by gravity when released by the timing-mechanism.

12. In combination, a container including a closure, securing mechanism therefor including relatively movable parts one of which forms a guard for another, a releasable holding device for the guard, pow'er means for releasing the holding device operable for a predetermined period previous to effecting its release and a lock for the closure having means normally holding said power means in check and adapted to effect release of the same and also including means adapted to place the guard in protecting position when moved to guard the power means.

13. In combination, a container including a closure, securing mechanism therefor including relatively movable parts one of which forms a guard for another, a releasable vholding device for the guard, power driven releasing means for the holding device operable for a predetermined period previous to effecting release of said holding device and a combination lock having an arm movable to position the guard in protecting position, and means operated by the arm for normally holding saidpower driven means against operation.

14. In combination, a container including a. closure, securing mechanism for the closure including bolt work and a releasable guard therefor, control means including a driven member adapted after operation for a predetermined period to effect release of said guard, a member operable from the exterior of the container and means adapted to be actuated thereby including parts arranged to both move the guard from release position into obstructing position with relationy to the bolt work and to obstruct the control means whereby to hold it in check for any desired period.

15. In combination, a container` including a closure, securing mechanism for the closure, releasable guard means therefor, timing mechanism adapted after operation for a predetermined period to effect release of the guard means, a combination lock for the closure, parts arranged to be moved by the lock when the combination is destroyed, one being adapted to move the guard'from release to obstructing position and another serving to obstruct the timing mechanism whereby to hold it in check for a definite period.

16. In combination, a container including a door, releasable securing means therefor, guard means mounted independently of the securing means for obstructing the latter, timing mechanism for effecting release of the guard means after operation for a predetermined period, a member arranged for operation from the eXterior of the container and means under the control of said member mounted independently of the timing mechanism and including parts, one of which is adapted When the door is closed to reset the gua rd means in obstructing position and another to obstruct the timingmechanism 'to prevent operation thereof.

17. In combination, a container including a closure, timing mechanism carried thereby, a guard movable to and from a predetermined position, releasable means for holding the guard in said position adapted to be actuated by the timing mechanism after operation thereof for a predetermined period whereby to effect release of the guard, securing mechanism for the closure mounted independently of the guard and adapted when in securing position to be obstructed by the guard when the latter is in said predetermined position and means controllable from the exterior of the container when th-e closure is in closed posi-tion to both obstruct the timing mechanism to prevent operation thereof and to move the guard to said predetermined position.

18. In combination, a container including a closure, releasable securing means therefor including a part movable therewith in a predetermined path, a pivoted guard adapted to swing into said path in position to obstruct said part when the securing means is in locking position, holding means for securing the guard in obstructing position, timing mechanism for effecting release of said holding means, an operating member disposed exteriorly of the container and devices adapted when the securing mechanism is in locking position to be moved by the operating member, on-e to move the guard into obstructin g position for support by the holding means and the other into position to prevent operation of the timing mechanism.

19. In combination, a container including a closure, securing means for the closure, releasable guard means therefor including a member movable to and from obstructing position With respect to the securing means and also including a spring pressed holder for said member, timing mechanism adapted after operation for a predetermined period to move said holder whereby to effect release of said obstructing means, a member operable from the exterior of the container and parts arranged to be actuated thereby with the closure in closing position, one being adapted to move the guard into position to be supported by the spring pressed holder and another serving to obstruct the timing mechanism whereby to hold it in check for a definite period.

20. A locking mechanism for safes and the like having bolt Work for securing the door of the safe comprising releasable guard means for the bolt Work mounted for operation independently thereof, a timing mechanism "including an operating part for releasing the guard means normally occupying a position in spaced relation thereto and arranged after operation of the timing mechanism for a predetermined period to moveinto position to release the guard means and a combination lock mechanism having a member under the to effect movement, of said guard means whereby to hold the bolt Work against release, timing mechanism arranged after operation fer a predetermined period to release said guard means, and means for holding said timing mechanism in cheek, said means bein@ spaced from and independent of the guard means in all positions thereof and arranged to be released by operation of said control means.

22. In a locking mechanism forl safes and the like, releasable guard means for the bolt Work of the safe, control means operable from the exterior ofthe safe When closed serving to move said guard means intoposition to hold the bolt Work against release,

timing mechanism arranged after operation for a predetermined period to release said guard means, and means spaced from and independent of the guard means arranged to be operated by the control meansto and from position to hold said timing mechanism in check.

In a locking mechanism for safes and the like, releasable guard means for the bolt Work of the safe, timing mechanism arranged after operation for a predetermined period to release said guard means, a combinati-on lock mechanism, and parts under the control of said last mention-ed mechanism one of which is arranged upon destroying the combination when the safe is closed to position the guard means for holding the bolt Work against release and another serving to hold the timing mechanism in check, said timing mechanism being freed for operation upony successfully' operating the combination and serving to subsequently release said guard means.

24. The combination of a safe having a door, bolt Work for securing the door, guard means for the bolt Work operable independently thereof, a timing mechanism arranged after operation for a predetermined period to eli'ect release of the guard means, a combination lock mechanism, means spaced JJrom and independent of the guard means for holding the timing mechanism in check arranged to be released by said last mentioned mechanism upon successfully operating the combination, means actuated by said combination lock mechanism upon destroying the combination arranged to move the guard means into osition to secure the bolt Work and means or releasing the bolt Work after operation of the guard means by the timing mechanism.

25. The combination of a safe having a door, bolt Work for securing the door, guard means for the bolt Work operable to hold the same against release, a combination lock mechanism, timing mechanism arranged after operation for a predetermined period to release said guard means and means under the control of the combination lock mechanism including a part spaced from and independent of ythe guard means arranged upon destroying the combination to move into position to hold the timing mechanism in check, and means actuated by the combination lock mechanism When moved to locking position operating to move the guard means into position to secure the bolt Work.

26. In combination, means for protecting a securing device comprising a timing mechanism, a lock, guard means for said securing device and parts under the control of the lock one of Which is arranged When the loc-lr is moved to locking position to move the guard means to protecting position with respect. to said securing device and another operating to hold the timing mechanism in check, said last mentioned part being released by the lock When `the latter is movedto unlocked position.

27. ln a locking mechanism for safes and the like provided With securing means, releasable guard means for the securing means comprising relatively movable cooperating parts, control means arranged to be operated from the exterior of the safe when closed and serving to move one of said parts into cooperating relation with another to protect the securing means, timing mechanism having a part. arranged after operation of the mechanism for a predetermined period to move into position to engage and release one of said cooperating parts to eiiect release of the securing means, and means for holding said timing mechanism in check arranged to be released by movement of said control means to a predetermined position.

HERBERT F. VALKER. 

